The Nigerian Army Guards Brigade and other security agencies involved in Exercise Enduring Peace have been lauded for their efforts and sacrifices at securing the lives and properties of citizens at the Federal Capital Territory and its environs.
Major General Olusegun Adesina said the ongoing Exercise Enduring Peace being carried out within the Federal Capital Territory and other similar exercises being conducted across the country is key to achieving a secured and peaceful environment where social-economic activities would thrive.
General Adesina made the remark when he led a team of other Senior Officers on a Monitoring and Evaluation visit to the Forward Operation Base, Exercise Enduring Peace in the Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory today 30th November, 2021.
Stating the purpose of the team’s visit, Maj Gen Adesina said they were at the base to ascertain the level of progress made in the ongoing Exercise across the FCT and its environs, stressing that since the Exercise was flagged off, so much progress had been recorded in furtherance of the Chief of Army Staff(COAS) zeal to create a safe and secured environment for all Nigerians.
He noted that the COAS and top military hierarchy was particularly impressed with the rescue of the University of Abuja senior lectures and other victims by troops of the Brigade, in addition to several other rescue operations conducted to secure the FCT.
General Adesina further commended the effort of the Brigade which he said has helped to stabilise the general area from the activities of kidnappers, and other criminal elements adding that the synergy between the troops of the Brigade and other sister security agencies such as the Department of State Services, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps as well as the Nigerian Police should continue to be encouraged and sustained as no security agency could win the war on terror alone.
The Team leader implored the Brigade to continue the good work towards achieving the COAS vision which is to have a professional Nigeria Army ready to accomplish the assigned mission within a joint environment in defence of Nigeria, reiterating his zeal towards enhancing troops welfare.
Also speaking during the visit, Col Ibeh commended the Brigade for ensuring stakeholders engagement which he noted would continue to help in the area of Intelligence gathering, adding that the strong synergy between the Command and the various agencies is key towards achieving the desired expected results.
Responding, the Commanding Officer, 176 Guards Battalion which is the point Battalion for the ongoing Exercise, Lt Col Kolawole Adisa assured the team of the troops’ readiness to continue to carry out their assigned tasked diligently and in tandem with the rules of engagement adding that the Brigade is committed to defending and securing the Federal Capital from all criminals.
He also reiterated the Brigade’s readiness to work with all sister agencies to achieve the desired peace within the FCT and its environs. The visit was witnessed by representatives of the various security agencies participating in the ongoing operation. Climax of the event was presentation of souvenirs by the representative of the Commander Guards Brigade, Lt Col Joshua Okwoli who also doubles as the Garrison
Commander Guards Brigade.
Exercise Enduring Peace was flagged off on 4th October to checkmate criminal activities within the Federal Capital and Nasarawa State and the operation has continued to yield positive results ranging from arrest of kidnap kingpins to rescue of several victims who have been reunited with their loved ones.
Similarly, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in collaboration with 7 Guards Battalion today 30th Nov 2021 also carried public destruction of confiscated illicit drugs worth 19.960 Kilograms of assorted illicit drugs at the Battalion’s obstacle ground. The drugs burnt were from the FCT Command and seizures from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja. The illicit assorted drugs include cocaine, heroin, cannabis, tramadol codeine and others. The event was witnessed by top agencies of government and civil society organisations. Below are pictures from the events.